Heads up that this is arguably Melbourne’s toughest climb. It should only be attempted if you have a very high fitness level and don’t mind walking your bike.

This climb was once the steepest bitumen road in Australia, and part of the hill climb circuit. They first raced cars here on 12 March 1951. The circuit consisted of a 967 meter loop featuring an insane climb half-way through. The last race was held there on 6 December 1987. If you truly consider yourself a hill climber you will want to give this one a go. The climb is part of the Tikalara Park, which is a large area of preserved land in the Yarra Valley parklands. The park consists of wetlands and bushland, and is just off the main Yarra Trail. Which is one of Melbourne’s most popular shared bike paths.

The park has a variety of paths including paved footpaths, gravel tracks and wooden boardwalks.

Start of the climb is just off the Parkway (Templestowe). After you cross the bridge there’s a sign on the left hand side of the road for the hill circuit climb. Follow the trail and its only a short ride to the base of the climb.

The Tikalara Park climb

The climb to the base is over loose gravel, with a couple of bumpy sections. You’ll find a sign indicating the start of the climb, and the surface changes. The climb itself is on bitumen, which has significantly deteriorated over the years. You may have to work your way left to right to find a decent riding line. The first 100 meters gradually gets steeper and steeper as you round the bend.

When you round the bend I will guarantee you will shit yourself. There’s scary, and there’s scary. The Tikalara Park climb is something on a whole new level. It just gets steeper and steeper, and its hard to tell how steep it gets as the segment is too short, & there’s no way you will take your eyes off the path to look at your Garmin. I would guestimate that it peaks over 40%.

This is a climb that if you go too hard, you will end up cooking yourself and have to get off and walk. If you go too slow. You won’t have the ascendancy to climb and you will have to jump off and walk. A word of advice that if either of these situations occur. Try not to fall over……

Please don’t try this one if getting off and walking your bike humiliates you!

This climb is nicknamed ‘the Wall’. You’ll work out for yourself pretty quickly.

2/3 of the way up is winch corner, and you will see a rusted winch just off to the side of the path. Its tempting to go and tie a rope to the winch to pull yourself up. For many, that’s the only hope you will have of getting up to the top.

You may not be able to get up this one but how would you know if you never give it a go…..

End of the climb. Hopefully before you fall over.

What to expect

• This is a shared path. Please be courteous to walkers
• Keep an eye out for wildlife in particular Kangaroos
• Rough uneven surface
• An incredibly high level of fitness is required to even attempt a climb of this difficulty
• Toilet, Café & Picnic areas available nearby

How to get there

Access is off The Parkway or Arlunya Place (Templestowe), or the main Yarra Trail if you felt like taking the bike track.

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2 thoughts on “Tikalara Park climb Melbournes toughest climb”

Tim Brosnan said:November 1, 2017 at 2:05 am

Thanks so much for sharing this in FB. When I first read it, I was thinking “really, How steep can it be?’ As a mountain biker who loves to climb, and this being more a roadie site, I was sure it would be very overrated. So I decided to ride down from Ringwood and give it a go. STREWTH, I think maybe you have underrated this climb. Talk about a WALL.
Still, determined by my ego, I put it in Granny gear (1×11, 32t front ring & 11-42 cassette, 2.3 tyes at 30psi) I started the climb. It just kept getting steeper. I tried standing at one stage but the back wheel lost grip, so sitting as far forward on my saddle as possible and chin on the stem, I grunted my way to the top.
Again, thanks so much for highlighting this climb. Its an absolute cracker.